Egg carton



Dec. 29, 1953 Filed Deo. 29, 1949 M. BURGER EGG CARTON 2 Sheets-Sheet lZ5 ,Ewige/j M. BURGER Dec, 29, 1953 EGG CARTON 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledDeo. 29, 1949 INVENTOR.

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Patented Dec. 29, 1953 EGG CARTON Martin Burger, Morris, Ill., assignerto General Package Corporation, a corporation of Delaware ApplicationDecember 29, 1949, Serial No. 135,804

21 Claims.

The present invention deals with improvements in the bottom supportingstructure of a collapsible cellular paperboard egg carton. A relatedstructure is the subject matter of my copending application Serial No.93,395, filed May 14, 1949.

Generally this type of carton is characterized by front and rear sidewalls, an inverted V-shaped bottom, a medial longitudinal partitionintegral with the bottom and a plurality of cross partitions, thelongitudinal partition being provided with certain flaps which arebendable outwardly at an angle thereto and the cross partitions beingprovided with integral tabs which are bendable angularly to interengagewith and beneath the longitudinal partition flaps. As a result, thecarton bottom is eiectively supported by the cross partitions, thelatter are braced and supported` in erected condition, and a verticalbracing of the longitudinal partition, together with a strengthening andstiffening of the carton generally, are produced.

It is a general object of the present invention to accomplish these sameresults in a carton which is particularly well suited to be erected tooperative, egg receiving condition by automatic equipment of a typeoperated manually orotherwise.

Another and more specific object is to provide a paperboard egg cartonof this type having opposed front and rear walls, a bottom andlongitudinal partition forming section integrally connecting the walls,and transverse partitions hingedly connected to the walls and swingableto upright position therebetween. in which the transverse partitions areprovided with an improved type of medially pivoted tab or ap cut :fromthe material thereof, being swingable normal to the plane of the crosspartition to extend on opposite sides thereof, and in that positionbeing engaged beneath a portion of the longitudinal partition to sustainthe bottom and longitudinal partition forming section of the carbon inan improved manner.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a carton asreferred to in the preceding lparagraph in which the portion of thelongitudinal partition engaged by the medially pivoted `cross partitiontabs or flaps is constituted by vcertain integral bendable naps of saidlongitudinal partition; and in which the medially pivoted tabs or apslie in side-by-side engagement withthe longitudinal partition, in thesustaining position referred to,

The foregoing statements are indicative in a i general way of the natureof the invention, but

2 other and more specic objects will be apparent to those skilled in theart upon a full understanding of the construction and operation of thecarton.

A single embodiment of the invention is pref sented herein for thepurpose of illustration, but it will be appreciated that the inventionis susceptible of incorporation in other modified forms coming equallywithin the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a flexible paperboardv blank from which thepresent carton is con.

structed;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view ofthe cartonlin fully assembled, glued anderected condition, the integral cover of the carton being withdrawn toexpose the carton interior;

Fig. 3 is a somewhat enlarged, fragmentary view in longitudinal,vertical cross section approximately along line 3--3 of Figs. 2, 4 and5, illustrating the operative relationship of the improved partitionlocking and bracing iiaps of the carton, with respect to one another andto the longitudinal partition and bottom section of the carton;

Figs. 4 and 5 are, respectively, views in transverse vertical sectionalong section lines 4-4 and 5 5, respectively, of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective more clearly`showing the operating relation of the tab or flap elements andpartitions.

This invention aims at the substantial strengthening of a collapsiblecellular paperboard carton ofa well known type, similar to thatillustrated and described in the patent to Troyk No. 1,783,397 ofvDecember 2, 1930, by the use of coacting, bendable, interlocked apelements integral with the respective transverse and longitudinalpartition lmembers of thecarton. In their operative, interengagedrelationV these flaps hold the carton cross partitions in proper uprightposition and enable the vertical load on the raised carton bottom to bepartially distributed through the longitudinal partition member to thevarious cross partition members, which themselves rest on a supportingsurface.

The drawings showthe invention as embodied in a divisible typel cartoni. e., capable of being subdivided along a weakened transverse line intosections of equal six-egg capacity, but the prirl-` ciple is just asusefully applied tojhe non-divisible type. The carton is fabricated froma onepiece blankof a'suitable flexible, paperboard stock illustrated inFig. 1 which is died out in a generalcover panel I9 which carries afoldable locking,v

flap I9 on its outer edge.

The rear wall I'! has a cross partition pa-nel flexibly connected toits.. outer or` upperfmar-` gin by a series of longitudinally spaced andaligned crease lines 2|; similar creases connect it along its oppositemargin to a terminal` glue, Panel 2t is subdivided" by slitting and" ap22` creasing into a plurality of like cross partitions 23 which areconnected to the front wall I'I and 4to `the rear wall It (throughtheagency of glue flap 22) by means of the integral triangular webs orgussets 2t. The latter are creased at25. for vertical swinging movementto the operative, upright position illustrated inFig. 2, and it will benoted that the sets of cross partitions on op.u posite sides of thecenter of the carton blank are adapted to swing in opposite directionsabout the respective creases 25. This is due to the divisible nature ofthe illustrated carton, the blank I!) being provided with aperforatedtransverse division line 26 extending across` glue flap 22,front and rear wallsV I1, I6, cover panel Iii and locking flap i9', inalignment with slits .2'i in cross partition section 2G and bottom andlongitudinal partition forming. section ID; Concerning the crosspartitions immediately adjoining the transverse slit 27|, which. arespecially designated 23', they areadapted to hinge downwardly aboutpairs of spaced creases' to their erected parallel, vertical positionand they have individual transverse flaps` 28,1iexibly conoined theretoby parallel creasesor scores. 29. These aps 28 are separated at theirendsand center from partitions 23 by the sets, ofA inclinedr and shapedslits 363, 3l, respectively, and are adapted to-be flexed downwardly.along scores4 29 toward the respective adjacent, facing sidesofpartitions 23' when the latter are in orerativeposition.

The cross partitions 23, 23 are folded upon themselves about thelongitudinally extending, aligned creases 32 in panel 2t, when thecarton is in glued, flat, knock-down condition, as i1- lustrated in theTroyk patent. They are of forked outline, being'shaped at 33 on themarginal inner edge thereof to. providemutually inturned hookformations. These formations are adapted to be inserted in certainopenings in the longitudinal partition and bottom forming section Il)formed when thelatter is disposed in the angled, upwardly convergentposition ofy its parts shown in FigsJi and 5, as hereinaftery described.Thus inserted, the hooksv 33. assist in. vertically sustaining themedial, two-walled longitudinal partition of section Iii, designated-34.See-,Figs 2, 4 and 5.

Referring again to the blank shown in Fig. 1v, cross partition panel 2i!is provided immediatelv adjacent each of the hook formations 33 withspecial cuts and creasesl designed to free sets oflocking and supportingapsor tabs 3 5-from the material orv the respective cross partitions2,3. and 23. These includel ther outer, opposed, bow-shaped slitsA 36opening.A inwardly on either Side ofthe l medial panel creases V32, the.opposed,

U-shaped slits 3I opening outwardly and commonly based in longitudinalalignment with said creases, and the small intermediate hinge elements38 which lie between and connect the ade jacent feet or ends of therespective bow slits 3E and U-slits 31. Thus there are dened a pluralityof tabs 35 which are swingable about their individuall medial hinges38-into position normal to their respective associated cross partitions23 or 23 when the carton is in erected condition, as shown in Figs. 3 6inclusive, and which then lie along the opposite sides of longitudinalpartition 3A, in position to sustainingly engage certainportionsthereof. Each tab 35 has a geni erally,rectangular-.portion 35'which performs the direct supporting function and a rounded ear portion35" which is disposed on the opposite side ofthe cross partition 23 or23' from whip-"r the :tab is struck.

The bottom and longitudinal partition forming. section It iscut` andcreased in the manner shown inFig. l toprovide bendable flaps or tabs dwhich are adapted to interlock with the tabs 35, thelongitudinalspacingofthe respective sets of elements 35 and 4G relative to oneanother being-the same. For this purpose, obtusely angled, C-shapedslits 4I are formed to intersect the longitudinal medial crease ofthepanel, these slits terminating at their opposite ends in rearwardextensions 42. Transverse creases 43 connect the termini of the slitextensions 42' and a short slit IM which is longitudinally coincidentwith medial crease II separates the respective flaps 45 from oneanother.

The bottom and longitudinal partition-forming section Ibis alsoprovidedwithtwo parallel rows of slitted and creasedcross partitioir-receivingbracing formations 45. These formations are disposed in pairs which arelaterally aligned with the pairs of cross-partition hinge lines .555 or25' being located at equal distances from medial crease II. They areintended to provide bottomopenings ltefor thereception of crosspartitions 23, 23! together with aside flap or flaps to brace the crosspartitionswhen the latter are swung to upright position and insertedthrough the carton bottom. Flaps fil hold the cross partitions againstlongitudinal swinging movement and. assist the same inNresistingvertical buckling under load, so thatthe carton asa whole ismaterially strengthened and` rigidiiied.

In a preferred embodiment, the formations t5 each comprises a somewhatelongated slit 48 e24- tending transversely of the bottom and partitioniforming section. I3, each slit being intersected at its opposite ends bythe angular, longitudine-.ily aligned V-slitsA 49. The slit 48. ispreferably disM posed to one sideof a theoretical line through theapices of the V.slits, i. e., on the side from which the partitions 23,23. are swung to upright position, so that the Hap It] on one side ofslit :iii is somewhat larger than the other. Scoring 53 connecting theends of slits, @facilitates swinging of the larger flaps.

The above provisions` furnish end-narrowed openings (see Fig. 3).toreceivethe lower portion ofthe cross partitions 23 or 23 and thelatter are interlockingly4v engaged with bottoni section IIJ by the.mutuallyv ineturned hooks t?.v on their lower forked leg portions.Openings .13 are of. course normally` closed. by. the, flapsInassembling the carton fromthe above de'- scribed blank, the latter is'successively folded on itself along creaselinesilv and AII and the glueap 22.is.adhered totherear Wallii .adjacent its cover crease I8, inaccordance with conventional procedure. This places the carton in itsilat knocked-down condition for shipmentl or storage.

In erecting the carton to the condition shown in Figs. 2 through 6, itis placed with its cover side down and held in such position byrestraining the cover section I9 and/or rear wall I6. The front wall ilis then engaged adjacent a cut-out notch 5| in its margin and liftedupwardly to initiate spreading the walls apart at the end of the carton.The spreading action is carried out along the length of the carton untilit is in a hollow, generally rectangular cross-sectional outline.

The cross partitions 23. 23' are next rotated into operative positionparallel to one another and normal to the carton walls, during whichoperation the locking tabs 35 are preliminarily deflected about theirindividual medial hinge portions 38, ready to be engaged by theirinherent resilience beneath the lower edges of the out-turned naps 4Dwhen the latter are in proper position.

After the cross partitions 23, 23' have been swung to operative parallelrelation, the bottom section l0 is shaped to inverted V-outline andengaged with the partitions 23, 23 by causing the latter to enter theopenings 43 adjoined by aps dl. During an early phase of this operationthe flaps 40 are swung about their respective creases 43 and flaredupwardly and outwardly from the longitudinal partition 34. As the flaps40 move with the shaping longitudinal partition they pass underneath thetabs 35, which yield slightly about their hinges 38 to allow the flapsclearance in their movement. After the partition 3f! is properly shaped,tabs 35 snap into position beneath the aps. Hence, the bottom andlongitudinal partition forming section it is positively sustained by thecross partitions 23, 23 at a plurality of points along its length, dueto the interlocked engagement of the tabs 35 and llaps 4U. The base ofthe forked cross partitions is also received in the bottom opening 46,with the hooks 33 of the cross partitions engaging the ends of saidopenings, to further the support of the bottom by the cross partitions.

The above described operations of bending and engaging flaps 40 and 35are preferably performed automatically by suitable apparatus, manuallyor automatically controlled, in timed relation to the swinging of thecross partitions 23, 23 to upright parallel positions, the shaping oflongitudinal partition 34, the engaging of the latter with the crosspartitions and also the reverse swinging of the center flaps 28downwardly into the openings 52 from which flaps 4i) are displaced.These operations need not be described in detail; however, it will benoted that the proportioning and locating of tabs and ilaps 35, Ml aresuch that the former will readily snap beneath the latter intointersecting, substantially normal supporting engagement therewith.

It will also be noted that the medial pivoting oi the tabs 35 at 38enables the same to be readily engaged and swung by automatic machinery.It is merely necessary to cause a machine finger to press against thesurface of the partition 23 or 23 to depress the same relative to thetab 35, after which the finger is readily nsertable beneath the tab earportion 35 to swing the remaining portion 35 about its hinge 38 to thedesired partition supporting position.

Due to the interlocked relationship of the respective tabs and flaps 35,4U a substantial share of the load on the bottom of the carton isdistributed from the longitudinal partition 34 to the cross partitions,a, function also performed in part by the cross partition .hooks 33. Anytendency of the cross partitions to buckle is resisted to some extent bythe rear bracing engagement of the flaps 40 on the cross partitions, butthe main anti-buckle effect is exerted by the bottom formations 45adjoining the partition receiving openings 46. The ilaps 4'I yieldoutwardly when the respective partitions 23, 23 are thrust thereagainstin erecting the carton and the two aps thereafter have direct frictionalengagement with said partition at two points to brace the same, so thatpartitions resist buckle under load and present maximum column strength.Since the lower edges thereof lie approximately in the horizontal planeof the bottom margins of carton Walls I6, I l on a supporting surface,and their upper extremity is abutted by the cover I9 the crosspartitions further assist the walls in resisting crushing forces on thecarton.

The present carton is strongly resistant to displacement of its partsfrom final erected condition, due to a considerable degree to theinterlocking of tabs and flaps 35, 40 as described. This interlockserves to better distribute and withstand loads and stresses imposed onthe carton and, in addition, the cross partitions 23, 23 are rearwardlybraced by the elements referred to. The rigidity and column strength ofthe cross partitions are increased, since their tendency to bend orcollapse, either about a horizontal axis or about their medial creases32, is counteracted by the flaps bearing against this creased area. Alike action is performed at a lower point by the force couple which isrepresented by the bottom section naps 47. The several cross partitionsare held by tabs and flaps 35, 40 and 41 against shifting longitudinallyof the carton in either direction, again insuring maximum columnstrength to sustain vertical load. Moreover, in view of the fa-ct thatthe grain of the material of partitions 23, 23 is disposed in thehorizontal direction across said partitions, the tendency of the crosspartitions to buckle around a horizontal axis under compressive stressis counteracted by the flaps 4|] and 41 extending angularly across thegrain of the partitions.

What I claim is:

1. A paperboard egg carton comprising a bottom, front and rear wallsconnected to said bottom, an upstanding longitudinal partition connectedto said bottom and disposed between said walls, and a plurality of crosspartitions adapted to be positioned in upright position between saidwalls, said longitudinal partition having supporting portions and saidcross partitions having medially pivoted tabs extending thereacrosssubstantially parallel to said longitudinal partition and in supportingengagement with said supporting portions.

2. A foldable egg carton comprising 9, bottom, front and rear wallsconnected to said bottom, an upstanding longitudinal partition connectedto said bottom and disposed between said walls, and a plurality of crosspartitions hingedly connected to and positionable in upright positionbetween said walls, said longitudinal partition having longitudinallyspaced supporting elements projecting laterally therefrom and said crosspartitions having medially pivoted tabs extending thereacrosssubstantiallyparallel to said longitudinal partition and in supportingengagement with said elements.

3. A foldable egg carton comprising a bottom, front and rear wallsconnected to said bottom,

A. an upstanding two-walledlongitudinal` partition ofinverted Vcrosssection connected to said bottomiand disposed betweensaid Walls,and a plurality of crosspartitionshingedly connected to andpositionablein upright position between said \vallsthe,respective wallsof said longitudinal partition having longitudinally spaced supportingelements projecting laterally therefrom and said cross partitions havingmedially pivoted tabs extending thereacross substantially parallel tothe respective. walls of said longitudinal partition and insupportingengagement with said elements.. c

4. A oldable egg carton comprising a bott'oin, front and rear, walls4connected to said bottom, an upstanolingy longitudinal partitionconnected to said bottom and subdividing the interior of' the cartonbetween said walls, andv a plurality or cross partitions hingedlyconnected to said wallsk for movement to upright position therebetween,said longitudinal partition having longitudinally spaced elementsprojecting laterallyv therefrom and said cross partitions each having a,tabA element medially pivoted thereto between opposed.v free tab ends,said tab elements being oset from the plane oi the respective crosspartitionsY and disposed substantially parallel to said longitudinalpartition and in interlocked supporting engagement with saidlongitudinal partition elements.

V. Afoldable egg carton comprising a bottom, front and. rear wallsconnectedto said bottom, a two-thickness upstanding longitudinalpartition connected to said; bottom and subdividing the interior ofthecarton between said walls, and aV plurality of crosspartitions hingedlyconnected to said walls for movement to upright position therebetween,each of they thicknesses of said longitudinal partition havinglongitudinally .spacedY elements projectingr laterally therefrom andsaid cross partitions each having a pair of tab elements` mediallypivoted thereto between opposed free tab ends, said tab elements beingoiset from the plane of the respective cross partitions and disposedsubstantially parallel to saidrespective longitudinal partitionthicknesses and in interlocked supporting engagement with saidlongitudinal partition elements.

d. A paperboard egg carton comprising spaced iront and rear sidewalls, abottom extending therebetween, anv upstanding longitudinal partitionconnected to said bottom and paralleling A said walls, a plurality ofcross partitions positionable normall to said longitudinal partition andside walls in upright relation to saidl bottom, certain of saidpartitions having locking elements cut from the material thereof andpivoted thereto at points intermediate the ends of the elements, saidlocking elements being pivotally movable to extend on opposite sides ofthe partition to which they are pivoted, and means connecting saidelementswith said longitudinal partition in vertically sustainingvrelation, vand in substantially face-to-face relation, thereto.

7. A paperboard egg carton comprising spaced front and rear sidewalls, abottom extending therebetween, an upstanding longitudinal partitionconnected to said bottom and paralleling said walls, andV a plurality ofcross partitions positionable normal` to said longitudinal partition andside wallsL inzupright relation to said bottom, certainof vsaidpartitions having locking elements cut from the material,thereof andpivoted thereto atpoints intermediate the ends ofthe elements,` other:of the partitions having cooperating elements out from the materialthereof` and positionable at an angle thereto, said locking elementsbeingpivotally movable to extend on opposite sides oi the partition towhich they are pivoted and to engage and sustain said cooperatingelements in face-to-iace contacting relation to the partition from whichthe latter are cut.

8. A paperboard egg carton comprising spaced iront and rear side walls,a bottom extending therebetween, a two walled upstanding longitudinalpartition connected to said bottom and paralleling said walls, and aplurality of cross partitions positionable normal to said longitudinalpartition and side walls in upright relation to said bottom, said crosspartitions having locking elements cut from the material thereof andpivoted thereto on opposite sides oi said longitudinal partition atpoints intermediate the ends oi the elements, said longitudinalpartition having cooperating elements cut from the walls thereof andpositionable at an angle thereto, said locking elements being pivotallymovable to extend on opposite sides of the partition to which they arepivoted and to engage and sustain said cooperating elements infaoe-to-face contacting relation to the partition from which the latterare cut.

9. A paperboard egg carton comprising front and rear side walls, anintegral, longitudinal partition and bottom section connected to andextending therebetween, and forked cross partitions integrally hinged tosaid walls for swinging movement to upstanding position normal to saidwalls and partition and bottom section, said cross partitions beingprovided with locking elements which are medially pivoted between theirends to the cross partitions on opposite sides of thefork formation ofthe latter for pivotal movement to operative position at an anglethereto and in general parallelism with said partition and bottomsection, said partition and bottom section having formations above saidlocking elements, in said operative position of the latter, which areinterlockingly engaged from beneath by said looking elements.

l0, A paperboard egg carton comprising front and rear side walls, anintegral, two walled, inverted V-shaped longitudinal partition andbottom section connected to and extending therebetween, and forked crosspartitions integrally hinged to said walls for swinging movement toupstanding position normal to said walls and partition and bottomsection, said cross partitions being provided with locking elementswhich are medially pivoted between their ends to the cross partitions onopposite sides oi the fork formation of the latter for pivotal movementto operative position at an angle thereto and in general parallelismwith said partition and bottom section, the walls of said partition andbottom section having integral flap formations pivoted thereon whichswing at an angle thereto to position above said locking elements, insaid operative position of the latter, and are interlockingly engagedfrom beneath by said locking elements.

11. A. paperboard egg carton comprising front and rear side walls, abottom and longitudinal partition section connecting said walls andproviding a longitudinally extending partition of inverted V-shapesubdividing the space between said walls, said partition being providedwith a plurality of sustaining portions, and a plurality or forkedcrosspartitions hinged to said front and amaai one another in penetratingengagement with said carton bottom, said cross partitions being providedwith integral flaps adjoining the fork thereof which are bendable aboutmedial hinges out or the plane of said partitions, said cross partitioniiaps being disposed along the opposite sides of said longitudinalypartition in angular relation to f the cross partitions and ininterlocked vertically sustaining engagement from beneath with saidsustaining portions of said longitudinal partition.

12. A paperboard egg carton comprising front and rear side walls, abottom and longitudinal 4partition section connecting said walls andproviding a longitudinally extending partition oi inverted V-shapesubdividing the space between said walls, and a plurality of forkedcross partitions hinged to said front and rear walls for disposition inparallel relation to one another in penetrating engagement with saidcarton bottom, said cross partition being provided with integral flapsadjoining the fork thereof which are pivoted thereto for bending aboutmedial hinges out of the plane ofA said partitions and the longitudinalpartition having ilaps pivoted thereto for bending laterally at an anglethereto, said cross partition naps being disposed along the `oppositesides of said longitudinal partition in angular relation to the crosspartitions and in interlocked vertically sustaining engagement frombeneath with the laterally bent flaps of saidlongitudinal partition.

13. A paperboard egg carton comprising front and rear side walls, abottom and longitudinal partition section connecting said walls andproviding a longitudinally extending partition of inverted V-shapesubdividing the space between said walls, said partition being providedwith a plurality of sustaining portions, and a plurality of forked crosspartitions hinged to said front and rear walls for disposition inparallel relation to one another in penetrating engagement with saidcarton bottom, said cross partitions being provided with integral flapsadjoining the fork thereof which are pivoted thereto for bending aboutmedial hinges out of the plane of said partitions, said cross partitioniiaps being disposed along the opposite sides of said longitudinalpartition in angular relation to the cross partitions and in interlockedvertically sustaining engagement with said longitudinal partition, saidcross partitions having hooks adjacent said forks which are sustaininglyengaged from beneath with said sustaining portions of said partitionsection.

14. A foldable carton comprising front and rear walls, a bottomconnected to said walls including an upstanding longitudinal partitionsubdividing the space between said walls, said partition being providedwith a plurality of sustaining portions, and a plurality of crosspartitions hingedly connected to said walls for movement to operative,upright position normal to said longitudinal partition, said crosspartitions having integral flaps medially pivoted thereto between theflap ends which are bent out of the plane of the cross partitions toextend lengthwise of the longitudinal partition, said cross partitionflaps having interlocked engagement from beneath with said sustainingportions of said longitudinal partition to brace said carton, saidbottom being provided with cuts receiving said cross partitions in theoperative position of the latter and having tabs adjoining said cutswhich are adapted to engage a side surface of said cross partitions.

10 15. A foldable carton comprising front and rear walls, a bottomconnected to said walls including an upstanding longitudinal partitionsubdividing the space between said walls, integral iiaps disposed alongsaid partition and adapted to be bent at a substantial transverse anglefrom at least one side thereof, and a plurality of cross partitionshingedly connected to said walls for movement to operative, uprightposition normal to said longitudinal partition, said cross partitionshaving integral flaps medially pivoted thereto between the ap ends whichare bent out of the plane of the cross partitions to extend lengthwiseof the longitudinal partition, said cross partition flaps havinginterlocked, transversely intersecting engagement from beneath with saidlongitudinal partition flaps to brace said carton, said bottom beingprovided with cuts kreceiving said cross partitions in the operativeposition ofthe latter and having tabsadjoining said Cuts which areadapted to engage a side surface of said cross partition. i .A l l,

16. AV foldable egg carton comprising a bottom, front and rear wallsconnected to said. bottom, an upstanding longitudinal partitionconnected to said bottom and subdividing the interior of the cartonbetween said walls, and a plurality of cross partitions hingedlyconnected to said walls for movement to upright position therebetween,said longitudinal partition having longitudinally spaced elementsprojecting from asuriacethereof and said cross partitions havingelements cut from the material thereof and hinged thereto intermediatetheir ends, said last named elements being disposed substantiallyparallel to said longitudinal partition and in interlocked engagementwith said first named elements, said carton being provided with aweakening line extending thereacross to facilitate subdivision thereofand a pair of said cross partitions being located closely adjacent andon opposite sides of said weakening line.

17. A foldable egg carton comprising a bottom, front and rear wallsconnected to said bottom, an upstanding longitudinal partition connectedto said bottom and subdividing the interior of the carton between saidwalls, and a plurality of cross partitions hingedly connected to saidwalls for movement to upright position therebetween, said longitudinalpartition having longitudinally spaced elements projecting from asurface thereof and said cross partitions having elements hinged theretointermediate their ends and offset from the plane thereof to positionsubstantially paralleling said longitudinal partition in interlockedengagement from beneath with said rst named elements, said carton beingprovided with a weakening line extending thereacross to facili- Vtatesubdivision thereof and a pair of said cross partitions being locatedclosely adjacent and on opposite sides of said weakening line, therespective oiset elements of said pair of partitions eX- tending inopposite directions with reference to said weakening line.

18. A foldable paperboard egg carton comprising a bottom, front and rearwalls connected thereto, an upstanding longitudinal partition connectedto said bottom and longitudinally subdividing the interior of the cartonbetween said walls, and a plurality of cross partitions having iiapsintegrally hinged thereto by integral hinges located between oppositefree swinging nap ends and dellected out of the respective planesthereof, said longitudinal partition also having flaps integrally hingedthereto and deflected out of the iii 'of tiiosiirfao'e to 'whioh theyare -iiingoa to fe pose Ai'ening's in which portionsof `said crossrti'tions'are zreceived, Y'the flaps of said cross itions"inldeflected'position engaging a flat Asortito@ "ofsaid 1o'ngitudirjia1partition and said *longitudinal aps'eng'aging liiat surfaces of saidv4'e'ss partitions.

1 9`. 'Acarton in accordance Vwith claim 18, .in which 'said'jl'ongi'tudinal partition flaps are deli'aotetl-'upwardly relative to'that partition for engagement 'Withf'saidc'ross partitions, and in.Which-said lde'leeted'cro'ss partition flaps have surface oontaot 'with4saidl longitudinali partition ver"s'iibstant il poti'onsof theirrespective areas liar-id on opposite sides 'ofthe planes of the respee-P i ""20 oldablepap'erboard eggcarton compris- -Ij'iix'g'la "bottoni,fr'ont'and'rear 'walls connected `-thereto,4 Tan upst'andinglongitudinal partition'of viriizertd V-'shap'edcr'o'ss 'sectionconnected to said lbottom and longitudinally sub-dividing the in- Vriorof thecarton'between said walls, and a urality 'of crosspa'rtiti'onshinged to said Walls andV positioned in upright' position therebetween,

"said ross partitions having flaps integrally :hinged-theretoly'integral hinges located` between opposite freeswinging flap' ends anddeected *out of '-the"respeetive planesthereof, the invertedv's'ii'ifaoesof said longitudinai partition also hav- "ing'a'ps'integrally hinged thereto and deflected l2 out of the plane uofthesurface -to which ,-theyfare hinged vto expose openings in whichportions of said rcross partitions are received, the-naps of said crosspartitions in vdeected position engaging said surfaces of vsaidlongitudinal partition and said longitudinal partition flaps `engagingflat surfaces of said cross partitions. I

2l. A carton in accordance with claim 20,-in which said longitudinalpartition flaps are-deected upwardly relative to 'thatv partition forengagement with said cross partitions, and in which said deflected-cross partition aps have surface contact withisaid longitudinalpartition over substantial portions of` their Vrespective Vareas and onopposite sides'of the planes of the respective cross partitions. V

MARTIN BURGER.

References Cited in the file 0f this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Nov.2,1194?.

